The mold that makes the difference – double-casting training series across the region

7 trainings on double casting have been organized across 7 locations in South East Europe for over 30 forensics experts – to enhance the region’s capacity to connect evidence from gun crime scenes to national, regional and international analysis mechanisms.

Double casting increases the ability of forensic experts to make connections between crime and crime scenes, nationally, regionally and internationally. It consists of a two step-process: first requiring a silicone mold to be made of the fired bullet or cartridge case and then, the creation of a resin cast using the mold created. The process yields in the casting of a resin bullet and cartridge, ready to be used for ballistics imaging or microscope examination and comparison.

The training sessions, supported by SEESAC and delivered by Arquebus Solutions, seek to build capacity in the region to create microscopic replicas of projectiles and cartridge cases that can be peer reviewed and uploaded to a Ballistics Information Network and/or shared to judicial proceedings and across jurisdictions for comparison without upsetting the chain of custody or jeopardizing the original evidence.

Following the trainings, the necessary equipment used for producing the double casting was handed over to all the beneficiaries that have participated in the trainings, including experts from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia and Republic of Serbia.

The trainings are bringing the region one step closer to establishing the Firearms Focal Points, which aim to pre-empt and suppress crime in South East Europe. Strengthening of firearms investigation capacities throughout the region is further supporting the implementation of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to arms control in the Western Balkans, which was jointly adopted by the Western Balkans in the London Summit in July 2018.